10 signs that you are not ready to be a Digital Art Director

[@hellobont]

Did this sign help you diagnose wether you are ready or not to be a Digital Art Director? Do you have any other signs you would add?

[@markginaldenriquez4920]

I love all the signs ❤️ although on sign no. 9, I would say it can lead to a disaster if done wrong. As an art director, i prefer leaving my designers alone when they're at work. I may have to visit them from time to time but just to ask them things about themselves, not their work. I wouldn't want to give them an impression that i like micromanaging. One thing i learned about being a leader is that if your people are comfortable with you, they would naturally tell their struggles to you themselves. Let them come to you when they need help or clarifications. Besides, you're still going to review their work at the end of the day so let them and just do your job afterwards.

[@hellobont]

That's exactly right. It's not about micro managing but about developing relationships. Glad you found it useful Mark!

[@TamerlanAziev]

Thank you for really helpful tips! I’d add one more sign : ability to craft but lack of presentational skills. We can see so many times that nicely presented concept explaining reasons behind every design choice gets approved even if it’s very weak design wise. And vice versa.

[@hellobont]

I like that man! I think the most crucial skill there, that separates a Senior from an Art Director is the ability to create concepts that serve as guidance for all the visual decisions, and that strongly ties to the brand. Good one!

[@marigi2013]

“The truth will set you free, but probably piss you off first.” Couldn’t have been said better.

[@hellobont]

Had to be said 🤪🙌🏻

[@takadafilm]

The best 10 minutes I've ever spent.

[@hellobont]

Imagawa Takayuki that’s very kind my friend! You get this stuff, and that’s speaks very well of you. Cheers!

[@nadiaestefania]

Thanks for the video, it's really wide opening because i was specting to hear "leadership tips". I found out that i've had really bad team leaders, most of my frustrations with jobs was because i didn't felt heard or that these coordinators didn't let me micromanage and organize myself because of the "urgency" of some tasks that would only, in the end, benefit them. I am at a point in my career where i feel i have no real tangible experience at all, LOL.

[@hellobont]

That’s great! You can also learn from your bad experiences so that when you have the chance to lead a team, you do the opposite of what you didn’t like others do to you 👌🏻 I did that too, and had multiple opportunities to learn from. It will also give you empathy when you lead others.

[@alunlloyd9812]

The delegate over do it yourself is one i really struggle with haha. Hope to improve on it soon

[@LarryLetterz]

Great vid, useful insight man I wish I would have saw this before becoming a creative director. Definitely would have helped expedite the process.

[@biwoorld635]

Amzing, im frm kerala iam a 5 year experienced graphic/ui designer, thakyou so much 👍🏻

[@sbmiller3699]

Books. Great idea.

[@murilocavalcanti1225]

Very clarifying video, looking forward to being an art director one day! Thanks :)

[@hellobont]

It’s a nice goal! You can do it 🙌🏻

[@juanmantz]

Amazing. Great info. Love it. I'm glad I feel outside of these as a Creative Director myself, I was like 😅. Must be the impostor syndrome kicking in haha. I'd add presentation skills. It's something more specific and probably covered on the soft skills, but in my work I felt a lot positive feedback when I bumped up my presentations adding some storytelling techniques, better quality than regular PPT files or simply and interesting way to covering the topic.

[@hellobont]

Definitely! Storytelling is related to business as well, good one 🙌

[@marcosham1306]

Hey @bont this video helped me to step up my mindset about my career. Thank you a lot. Cheers from São Paulo.

[@hellobont]

Hey man! So glad to hear that. Cheers from Buenos Aires!

[@Mettyunuabona_]

Glad I found this - Might be my next step into my career

[@hellobont]

Awesome! Keep at it man 💪🏻

[@stevenoclock]

i love this advice- it's funny because the top yt videos on how to become an art director are exactly what this video warned about- focusing too much on hard skills

[@hellobont]

Haha that’s really interesting!

[@Monkeygrey]

As a digital SAD I can tell all you aspiring designers, take everything he said with a grain of salt. His approach of "When I'm pissing you off I'm right" shows he lacks soft skills himself. You can be a normal human being with character faults, just try to work at them IF they interfere with your work. He said a lot of right things but these doesn't rule out for you to become a SAD. The reality is, most SADs or CDs lack couple of these features and still are amazing at their job. so chill.. work on your craft and try being a team player 👍🏼

[@insanemoe]

Best tips overall! Thank you.

[@hellobont]

Glad to hear tha man!

[@salvadorfernandez2087]

Muy bueno Adrian. Gracias.

[@hellobont]

Salvador Fernandez un gusto Salvador!

[@vatsalaykhobragade]

Sir pls make a video on how to do art direction for digital designs ?

[@hellobont]

Noted, and I'll soon be making one about that 🙌

[@imsamcastillo]

Awesome!!

[@hellobont]

Thanks man!

[@gamatoszaras]

what if you have all the soft skills but lack in design compared to designers?

[@hellobont]

I'm assuming that you have the hard skills, for sure. Definitely have to first lead in the technical skills. Having said that, I have encountered a fair share of design leaders that lacked a bit of hard skills (just a bit though, not a huge lot), but excelled in their soft skills. I think it's easier to find talented designers, than it is to find talented leaders.

[@zhalabi]

Keep it up!

[@hellobont]

Thanks Ziad!

[@edisonvdp]

Anyone else thought this was a V-sauce video ?

[@hellobont]

Just you apparently

[@Thoughtcorner224]

Not only leadership and business tho..world is much wider than corporate. Except for that amazing!

[@jaze_ph]

Agree 100%

[@rogerio8710]

Obrigado pelas palavras e por concordas com não vou ser relutante e na defensiva.😀😀😀

[@hellobont]

That's the attitude 😊

[@MaryArts]

The last point hits it home. Maybe it is just my character, but I see everyone equal in a team. The problem: No one is leading then. So the Project Managers have to take over. I am still not used at telling someone what to do.

[@hellobont]

As a leader, it's your role to organize the team and tasks. That doesn’t mean you undervalue people. You just have a different role to play in the team, for things to move forward smoothly. And as leaders, we also need to recognize that leadership is not about a role, it's about influence. So the way you organize the team and tell others what to do, will determine if you have positive influence on them or not. Team members should respect you and WANT to follow you because they trust your judgment. Not sure if that helps or speaks to what you were saying.

[@WaynesWorldStudioVancouver]

It will be more helpful to read the management skills and get a job in the restaurant business as a waiter or dishwasher or work in the fast food place to get real skills. Like learning to draw or paint, it is all good in the book but real practice comes to learn from real life! A good writer don’t stay at home and write but actually meeting the world and meeting people, reading book only good for research! My 2c

[@hellobont]

Why not learn being a Digital Designer instead of a waiter?

[@kioky]

Thanks for your insights.

[@TomBiskup]

Amazing content. Thank you

[@Beyondzclub]

Hey great content which talks through experience ! do you have any content for aspiring ux designers

[@hellobont]

Hey man, thanks! What type of content would you be interested in? Do you have any specific questions? Otherwise, feel free to browse our history of videos and see if you find anything helpful!

[@furleysbrain]

Brene Brown put me off reading about 'leadership' for eternity. I read her book Dare To Lead (bestseller) and it was terrible. Low grade psychology. No data points, all anecdotal, basic ass shit. I've read a handful more of books like this and am convinced they're mostly all nonsense. Learn by observing those around you. Learn by being a real person, not an office humanoid that acts out queues from a book. Just my imo

[@hellobont]

I disagree there my friend :) We all learn by experience. I just chose to learn from the experiences of others, so I can save myself a lot of time and frustration. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@furleysbrain]

@@hellobont Fair! Each to their own. Nice video, didn't mean to sound negative.

[@hellobont]

@@furleysbrain not at all man, my response was probably too strong haha. Just wanted to emphasize I think differently, but every point of view is valid and welcome!

[@mdtahawarsi4775]

Spot on! Just what I needed when I needed.

[@hellobont]

Great to hear that man, thanks!

[@danell-a]

I super enjoy your videos. Always on point. With regards to this upload: I've always had the understanding that the Art Director role is non hierarchical. i.e you can be a Junior/Mid-Weight/Senior Art Director. An Art Director's job is simply to define the aesthetics and direct its application. Is this not correct?

[@hellobont]

Thanks Dan, glad you like our videos :) What you say is correct, but for the Publicity industry. In this video, as in any of our videos, we talk about the Digital Design industry. It's a subtle difference in the name: Digital Art Director vs. Art Director. Digital Art Directors are Senior Digital Designers that are given a directive role in an agency. Let me know if this makes sense or if you have any other questions!

[@danell-a]

@@hellobont Yeah totally makes sense, and thanks for the response. I sort of just needed a correct lens to view your 'Digital Art Director…' uploads. Thanks for clearing it up :)

[@hellobont]

@@danell-a Awesome Dan! It's a valid question. Cheers!

[@kuptsovdanil6861]

Thank you!

[@hellobont]

My pleasure!

[@great567]

Make sure people are receptive and that you work with people who you trust. I worked with creatives in the past who didn't understand why I was asking to see their work and that backfired.

[@hellobont]

Sure, a few designers in the team might be defensive about you asking to see their work, even if you clarify you’re just curious and want to chat. Consistency is important I think, so everyone sees you do it often and just as a way of getting closer to others, not to boss them around. They’ll eventually come around, or maybe not and then you can just skip those designers :P

[@great567]

@@hellobont I could try that. I'm in a weird position at a startup right now that doesnt really value design that much. Would love to connect and maybe get some of your perspective.

[@hellobont]

@@great567 hey man! I would love to help. My only offer in terms of a place where I can give you advice is my Digital Design Masterclass. You can check it out here: bont.academy/courses/digital-design-masterclass. We have live sessions where you can ask questions, and also get the perspective from other students in the group.

[@hellobont]

​ @David Bow Wow in terms of being at a startup that doesn't value design, my quick tip would be that while you are there, look for a company that does value design. Don't expect to change a company by "educating" them about the value of design.

[@great567]

@@hellobont Cool! Thanks man

[@bunniewood]

7:29 Personaly i hate it when im constantly asked how I'm doing with my projects. It interrupts my flow and what am I meant to say? "its good" ...if I have a problem ill ask. I just want to be left alone focus on my job. I want to be trusted. When they ask me this am i meant to explain to them the entire brief to give them context?? i hate it

[@hellobont]

Sounds like you had designers ask you that with the intention of giving you feedback. But done with curiosity, it really sparks conversations and can make your colleagues feel like you care about them. There’s a lot on subtleties with soft skills. But there’s nothing wrong with preferring to be at your computer focused. You then have more of a Senior rather than a Lead/Director profile, and that’s totally fine and valid! Most designers are like that :)

[@bigcocostudio]

This video it's what I would have liked to hear when I had reviews to get better at my last role. Sometimes you just have to find your own path to it, but it's super cool of you to talk about this topic. It would be nice to have another video of recommended books. Keep it up!

[@hellobont]

Haha yeah I know... sometimes I think that leaders aren't clear with the path for you because they didn't think about what a designer needs to become one. Glad the video helped! I have posts in Instagram with my top 5 books on leadership, business and design!